Crew: Aaron Thurlow

In the latest of our profiles on members of the Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service ADAM GRETTON talks to coxswain's son Aaron Thurlow...

Salt water must run in the Thurlow family's veins. They're not content with having one clan member, Dick, as coxswain of the Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service.For young Aaron Thurlow is part of- the crew, too - and hopes one day to take over the helm from his father.

Aaron, 18, who lives at the family home Caister, is proud to rescue people from the North Sea. And, like Dad, he has been fishing on the open waves ever since he could walk. He joined the lifeboat crew at 16 and is now a fully-fledged crew member, with two big rescues already under his belt.

His first assignment was when he was 17. when the lifeboat Bernard Matthews was called out-to assist a fisherman in the river whose craft had ran out of fuel. Since then, he has been in the crew that went to the aid of the vessels Excelsior and Zippa in gales.

"From when I was 11, Dad asked me to come down - and I just got involved from there," he said "I hope to be coxswain and follow in his footsteps. It is very exciting when the pager goes and it is a proud feeling to go out there and rescue people."

Aaron works for Klyne Tugs in Scotland, escorting tankers across the sea, but returns home whenever work allows to do his bit for the lifeboat. He also owns his own fishing boat. Aaron is looking forward to the day when the service's new craft, Valentijn 2000, arrives as he says it will give the younger crew members a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. Because the Valentijn will be capable of 37 knots compared to the 16 knots of the Bernard Matthews, crew - members over 55 years old will not be able to go on rescues in her. So, with many years to go before he reaches that age, Aaron is looking forward to many more years of active life-saving duty.